Rochester police said a man was reported smashing windows on South Main Street about 8 a.m. Wednesday. When officers arrived, they saw a man holding stick and pointing a sword at a person on the sidewalk in front of 48 S. Main St.

The officers drew their guns and ordered the man to drop the items, which he did, police said. He was arrested without incident.

Police said the man was identified as Oscar Michaud, 53. He told witnesses and officers that he was completing "God's work" and that the "world was ending," police said.

The front windows of three businesses -- Gold-n-Things, Tri City Bicycles and The Granite State Vapor Lounge -- were damaged, police said. Michaud was also accused of threatening a witness by pointing a sword at the person and grabbing a witness, police said.

Rochester residents and business owners praised police for a quick arrest, but said they are still rattled.

"No one got hurt, and that's the good thing about it. From what I read on the police report, he could have done damage to somebody," said Roland Hersey.

Business owners spent most of the afternoon cleaning up the damage.

"I had no idea what had happened. I was really grateful that I hadn't gotten robbed, because that was obviously one of my main concerns," said Christian Cyr, a Rochester business owner. "So I was happy that that didn't happen, but still shocked at the same time that someone had actually come down the street with a sword and smashed windows."

People who know Michaud said he had been acting strangely all weekend.

Deborah Lucas said he may have been arguing with his girlfriend.

"I guess a couple of days ago, she told me she called the cops on him," said Lucas.

"I've known Oscar for a while, and he's not a vicious person. I just think that he needs help," said Hersey.

Michaud was charged with four counts of criminal mischief, simple assault, criminal threatening and contempt, in connection with a previous arrest.